Ability Scores

Ability Modifiers
Abilities and Spellcasters

Ability Modifiers

Each ability, after changes made because of race, has a modifier ranging from -5 to +5. Table: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells shows the modifier for each score. It also shows bonus spells, which you'll need to know about if your character is a spellcaster.

The modifier is the number you apply to the die roll when your character tries to do something related to that ability. You also use the modifier with some numbers that aren't die rolls. A positive modifier is called a bonus, and a negative modifier is called a penalty.

Table: Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells

----------- Bonus Spells (by Spell Level) -----------

Score

Modifier

0

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

1

-5

----------- Can't cast spells tied to this ability ---------

2-3

-4

----------- Can't cast spells tied to this ability ---------

4-5

-3

----------- Can't cast spells tied to this ability ---------

6-7

-2

----------- Can't cast spells tied to this ability ---------

8-9

-1

----------- Can't cast spells tied to this ability ---------

10-11

0

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

12-13

+1

-

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

14-15

+2

-

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

16-17

+3

-

1

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

-

18-19

+4

-

1

1

1

1

-

-

-

-

-

20-21

+5

-

2

1

1

1

1

-

-

-

-

22-23

+6

-

2

2

1

1

1

1

-

-

-

24-25

+7

-

2

2

2

1

1

1

1

-

-

26-27

+8

-

2

2

2

2

1

1

1

1

-

28-29

+9

-

3

2

2

2

2

1

1

1

1

30-31

+10

-

3

3

2

2

2

2

1

1

1

32-33

+11

-

3

3

3

2

2

2

2

1

1

34-35

+12

-

3

3

3

3

2

2

2

2

1

36-37

+13

-

4

3

3

3

3

2

2

2

2

38-39

+14

-

4

4

3

3

3

3

2

2

2

40-41

+15

-

4

4

4

3

3

3

3

2

2

42-43

+16

-

4

4

4

4

3

3

3

3

2

44-45

+17

-

5

4

4

4

4

3

3

3

3

etc. . .

Abilities and Spellcasters

The ability that governs bonus spells depends on what type of spellcaster your character is: Intelligence for wizards; Wisdom for clerics, druids, paladins, and rangers; or Charisma for sorcerers and bards. In addition to having a high ability score, a spellcaster must be of high enough class level to be able to cast spells of a given spell level. (See the class descriptions for details.)